As I’m currently working my way through the first draft of my third novel, I’ve come to realise that my story scope is too small. My main plot events are commonplace and my dramatic moments nothing out of the ordinary.

It’s not something I’m worried about at this stage. I shall forge on until I’ve a complete first draft, then set to work correcting the problem when I re-write. I’ll need to really think about those moments when my protagonist finds himself in danger, as they need to be both extreme and believable.

To help, I got out my highlighter pen and marked any sentences in Donald Maass’ book which I thought may help. I found this one particularly useful:

When writing fiction, there is lots of advice out there in books and on the internet. One of the most important pieces of advice you can take on board is understanding that story is made up of four elements: Continue reading →

Ever read a book you just couldn’t put down? Want to write one? A key element of the ‘page-turner’ novel is the build up of a strong sense of tension and suspense. But how, as writers, can we achieve this in our own work? Continue reading →

I was fortunate to be asked to assist with a lecture at Salford University earlier this year, with the wonderful Gill James, and was very impressed with the standard of writing craft being taught. I’m sure Gill won’t mind if I share a little of what we all learned on the subject of Pace; or, How to Keep Your Reader Turning those Pages. Continue reading →

Books are more than words on a page. When we read them their stories seem filled with real people and places in our imaginations. But how, as writers, do we achieve this clarity of picture in the mind of a reader? I took a long hard look at the opening chapter of my novel, Wolf Soul, and came up with the following: Continue reading →

I’ve been thinking recently about making the most of the dramatic moments in my stories. It’s easy to get carried away in the flurry of writing, speeding from one action to the next, but before you know it the scene is over, and you’re left feeling dissatisfied. Below is an example of a ‘rushed’ moment. It’s at the point in my novel, Wolf Soul, where Maria is about to kill the wolf.

Bending down, Maria picked up the sabre. She turned, confused, towards the sounds of commotion. The wolf was at its victim’s throat, heedless of any danger. Blindly Maria thrust the blade towards the beast.

It does the job, but is over so quick the reader might almost miss it.

I read somewhere (and I wish I could remember where, but alas I can’t) that the way to extend dramatic tension in a scene is Continue reading →